# NTSB DEN90LA116: Cessna 172RG, N6498R, Albuquerque, NM, May 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1990, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17935/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA116

## Probable cause

THE CFI'S IMPROPER PROCEDURES DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND INADVERTENT STALL/MUSH.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - wire,static
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, (CFI), WAS PERFORMING A RENTAL CHECKOUT FOR A PRIVATE PILOT WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD. THE CFI SAID HE USED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF, LIFTED OFF AT 56 KNOTS, AND CLIMBED AT 67 KNOTS. THESE PROCEDURES ARE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR NORMAL NOR SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. HE REPORTED THAT THE PLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB ABOVE 50 FEET AGL. THE FLIGHT AREA IS OVER CITY STREETS, AND HAS POWERLINES AND PHONE WIRES EVERY BLOCK ACROSS THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE CFI SAID HE PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL YOKE TO RAISE THE NOSE, TO CLEAR WIRES. THE PLANE BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. HE SAID HE RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR BUT STRUCK WIRES DURING THIS ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THEM. THE CFI MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. HE SAID HE LOWERED THE GEAR, RETRACTED THE FLAPS AND AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE WINGS WERE BENT. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6498R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6498R-1994-09-01), registration cancelled 1994-09-01, S/N 172RG0187 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172RG0187
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1AG 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Coronado Air Center
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 827 total, 38 in this make and model, 665 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900526017629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900526017629A), May 26, 1990: Cessna 172RG, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Unable to climb after takeoff. Landing in a trailer park, struck wires. Pilot did not retract gear to reduce drag.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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